Brief History

BSME was conceived by the founders of Budapest Semesters in Mathematics (BSM), and the two programs share a common goal—to provide their participants with an opportunity to experience the mathematical and general culture of Hungary. BSME was designed specifically for those who are not only passionate about mathematics, but also the teaching of mathematics.

In 1985, BSM hosted the first semester of North American undergraduate students in Budapest. The program has grown in numbers and reputation over the years. At latest count, more than 170 colleges and universities have sent students to the program. More information about the history of BSM can be found on the BSM website.

With an increased national demand for teachers who can provide learning experiences centered on student inquiry, problem solving, and communication (to name a few), sharing the Hungarian approach with our future teachers felt like a natural step to undertake. Thus, a new program called Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Education (BSME) was established in 2014. The first BSME students arrived in Budapest in the fall of 2015. The summer program, Summer@BSME, welcomed its first cohort in 2018.

BSME Quick Links

BSME Blog

By Rachael Blackman – BSME Summer 2018 Sziasztok (Hello)! After 22 hours of traveling, I landed myself 9 hours into the future in the capital of Hungary to study the Hungarian approach to math education. The 2018 summer program called Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Education (BSME) consisted of 16 university students from the United States […]

By Sophia Hui – Pomona College, California, 2017 Fall student at BSME As I am writing this, I am missing Budapest and considering to apply for a Fulbright that will take me back to that beautiful city after graduation. I only have one more year of college bliss left, before reality hits and I have […]

By Cory Saunders, 2016 Spring student at BSM On Wednesday afternoons, my classmate Erin and I walked ten minutes to Derkovits School in Budapest, Hungary to host a math club for seventh graders. With the guidance of workshops led by Réka Szász and other collaborative resources, we created and led the activities for 4-8 students […]

Website Accuracy

Keeping our website accurate, helpful, and easy to use is important to us. If you find information that is incorrect, missing, or confusing, please let us know by emailing bsme@bsmeducation.com. Any other suggestions about the website are also welcome!